Boston Main Streets Foundation
Boston Main Streets Foundation shows inconsistent financial performance with zero executive compensation.
EIN: 203510157 · Boston, MA · NTEE: A80 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $603K |
| Total Expenses | $544K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $476K |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Boston Main Streets Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Boston Main Streets Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Boston Main Streets Foundation
Boston Main Streets Foundation (EIN: 203510157) is a nonprofit organization based in Boston, MA, classified under NTEE code A80. The organization reported total revenue of $603K and total assets of $599K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Boston Main Streets Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Boston Main Streets Foundation is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 10.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $492K |
| Total Expenses | $544K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-52,892 |
| Total Assets | $539K |
| Total Liabilities | $63K |
| Net Assets | $476K |
| Operating Margin | -10.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 11.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 11.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Boston Main Streets Foundation reported a deficit of $53K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 11.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 11.6% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Boston Main Streets Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +21.2% | +199.5% | -5.7% |
| 2022 | +653.3% | -41.2% | +54.9% |
| 2021 | -87.4% | -50.3% | -36.1% |
| 2020 | +109.2% | +221.7% | -28.5% |
| 2019 | -61.1% | +32.9% | +3.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Boston Main Streets Foundation with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Boston Main Streets Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $53K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 11.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported at 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers receive salaries from the organization, which is highly favorable for directing funds to programs.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Boston Main Streets Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Inconsistent financial performance with significant year-to-year deficits (e.g., 2023, 2020, 2017, 2016).
- Highly fluctuating asset base, indicating potential instability in financial reserves.
- Significant swings in revenue, suggesting reliance on unpredictable funding sources.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Boston Main Streets Foundation:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, demonstrating a strong commitment to mission-focused spending.
- Long filing history (13 filings), indicating a commitment to transparency over time.
- Periods of strong financial surpluses (e.g., 2022, 2018, 2015, 2014) demonstrate capacity for effective fundraising and management.
Frequently Asked Questions about Boston Main Streets Foundation
Is Boston Main Streets Foundation a legitimate charity?
Boston Main Streets Foundation (EIN: 203510157) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Massachusetts. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $603K. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Boston Main Streets Foundation spend its money?
Boston Main Streets Foundation directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Boston Main Streets Foundation tax-deductible?
Boston Main Streets Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203510157). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Boston Main Streets Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Boston Main Streets Foundation directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Boston Main Streets Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 75/100 (Good), Boston Main Streets Foundation is above average for NTEE category A80 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Boston Main Streets Foundation located?
Boston Main Streets Foundation is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and files with the IRS under EIN 203510157. It is classified under NTEE code A80.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Boston Main Streets Foundation have?
Boston Main Streets Foundation has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $603K in total revenue.
Is Boston Main Streets Foundation financially stable?
The foundation's financial stability appears inconsistent, with significant year-to-year fluctuations in revenue and expenses. For example, in 2023, expenses exceeded revenue by over $50,000, while in 2022, revenue significantly outpaced expenses.
How does the organization manage its assets?
The organization's assets have varied considerably, from a high of $807,736 in 2019 to a low of $368,945 in 2021, suggesting a dynamic approach to asset management or significant operational changes impacting its financial reserves.
What is the trend in the organization's revenue?
Revenue has been highly variable, ranging from a low of $2,063 in 2017 to a high of $491,594 in 2023 (excluding the latest reported $602,868), indicating an unpredictable funding stream.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Boston Main Streets Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Boston Main Streets Foundation's revenue has grown by 216.6%, moving from $155K to $492K. Total assets increased by 99.7% over the same period, from $270K to $539K. Total functional expenses rose by 2.4%, from $532K to $544K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Boston Main Streets Foundation reported a deficit of $53K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $63K in liabilities against $539K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 11.6%), resulting in net assets of $476K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $492K | $544K | $539K | $63K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $406K | $182K | $571K | $42K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $54K | $309K | $369K | $64K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $429K | $622K | $578K | $17K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $205K | $193K | $808K | $54K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $527K | $145K | $779K | $37K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $2K | $100K | $384K | $23K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $5K | $252K | $473K | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $221K | $102K | $740K | $34K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $435K | $123K | $627K | $40K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $265K | $130K | $278K | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $328K | $450K | $143K | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $155K | $532K | $270K | $8K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $492K, expenses of $544K, and assets of $539K (revenue +21.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $406K, expenses of $182K, and assets of $571K (revenue +653.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $54K, expenses of $309K, and assets of $369K (revenue -87.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $429K, expenses of $622K, and assets of $578K (revenue +109.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $205K, expenses of $193K, and assets of $808K (revenue -61.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $527K, expenses of $145K, and assets of $779K (revenue +25458.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $2K, expenses of $100K, and assets of $384K (revenue -56.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $5K, expenses of $252K, and assets of $473K (revenue -97.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $221K, expenses of $102K, and assets of $740K (revenue -49.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $435K, expenses of $123K, and assets of $627K (revenue +64.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $265K, expenses of $130K, and assets of $278K (revenue -19.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $328K, expenses of $450K, and assets of $143K (revenue +111.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $155K, expenses of $532K, and assets of $270K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Boston Main Streets Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Boston Main Streets Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.